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Farm to Market is happy to present its first CD release - a
beautiful recording by Upstate New York area legend Mitch Elrod backed by who he calls
the "CountrySoulHouse." Mitch, Mike Hotter (of knotworking fame),
and Bob Buckley (of The Kamikaze Hearts) got together a few years ago
to learn songs for Mitch's "Meltdown" album. The few spare sessions
were recorded for posterity on a stereo "head" microphone. The results
have transcended their original intent, and are now to be released as a
collection of the best material as the album Roadhouse Nature. This batch of songs finds Elrod at his most poetic and visual. "How your light goes way down low/pulling with its memory in tow in the real country dark" from Real Country Dark and "How this place we live goes to hell/And comes back up like a phoenix to God" from The Blue Filter are two beautiful lyrical moments from the songs. "Roadhouse Nature" is perhaps the finest record of Mitch's voice to date. He is clearly at home - comfortable, yet risky, flighty, yet solid - nailing bell-like high notes and fear-worthy low notes. Known as of late for his dobro and guitar playing in The Kamikaze Hearts, Bob Buckley is featured on "Roadhouse Nature" playing bass guitar and singing. His amazing vocal range and musical versatility are on full display in these sessions, laying down agile bass lines and chiming in with brilliant harmonies in all the right places. Mike Hotter is in fine Mike Hotter form on this record. That is to say, weaving in blues steeped licks and solos all over the place. Witness the last bar of his solo on Lies About Your Shadow - the pickup to the last verse features a hair raising bend that leads right into Mitch's recap of the first verse. Simply brilliant and well-placed. Roadhouse Nature tells all - you can hear stutters, stops, slips, buzzy frets, and giggles, but you also witness some truly beautiful moments of inspiration - those moments when the "perfect" note is found, a new chord somehow fits, all three voices hit the harmony just right, and everyone seems to agree on when the song should end - all without speaking. These recordings hold an incredible amount of magic in them, and Farm To Market is proud to be presenting them to the public. Curl up with your drink of choice, some headphones, and "Roadhouse Nature" to join Bob, Mitch, and Mike for some songs and a great time. |
TRACK LISTING: LIES ABOUT YOUR SHADOW REAL COUNTRY DARK (listen) TRANSPARENT ARROW MERCIFUL SWERVER WAY BACK DOWN (listen) HOW THINGS DANCE AWAY YOUR BEAUTIFUL DARK YOUR FRONTIER THE BLUE FILTER THE STORM BLEW THROUGH ME recorded up in the knothaus by mitch elrod mastered by troy pohl artwork by phil pascuzzo: pepcostudio.com all songs ©2005 mitch elrod except the storm blew through me with albert von schaff spell w music bmi farm to market 001 |